The 28-year-old Stenlund, defensive center, became a Stanley Cup champion with Florida Panthers in June.
Shortly after, he signed with the newcomer Utah.
The team was formed in April 2024 after Ryan and Ashley Smith, owners of the basketball team Utah Jazz, bought the entire Arizona Coyotes organization, including the player squad and coaching and management staff.
Already during their first season, the change is noticeable.
The former bottom team, which only made it to the playoffs once in the last twelve seasons, has improved significantly and is now in a tight playoff battle in the Western Conference after half a season.
Last year, they lacked 21 points to make the playoffs.
"Very bad"
A financially weak club, which had a college arena with a capacity of just under 5,000 spectators as their home arena, has now gained financial muscles to challenge in the long run.
NHL has taken something that was very bad and made it very good, said Chris Armstrong, the club's sports manager, recently in an interview with The Athletic.
With the short start-up period from the move to the first season, things are being fixed and donated during the process.
The pioneer spirit includes not only the team itself but also, for example, the home arena Delta Center, built for basketball.
"Cheers and applause"
The official seating capacity is 16,200 spectators, but about 5,000 of those seats have obstructed views when playing ice hockey.
So there are 11,131 seats with full view. That is also the average attendance with half the season played.
We have great fans, they are very excited that we are here and people are cheering and applauding, says Kevin Stenlund, a Stockholm native who won the Swedish Championship gold with HV71 in 2017, in a digital interview with Swedish journalists.
The arena will be renovated in the coming years to be gradually adapted for hockey.
Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and will do so again in 2034. The city has previously had teams in the AHL, IHL, ECHL, and American junior leagues – so hockey has existed in the city before.
Even the club name will change this summer when Utah will get a new name instead of the current Hockey Club.
2024-25: Utah Hockey Club.
Standings: In the battle for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
2021-22: Seattle Kraken.
Result of the first season: Could not surprise, finished second to last in the Western Conference and third from the bottom in the NHL overall.
2017-18 Vegas Golden Knights.
Result of the first season: Made a huge success and went all the way to the Stanley Cup final, losing to Washington. Third in the Western Conference in the regular season. Became champions in 2024.
2000-01: Columbus Blue Jackets.
First season: Far from the playoffs, but did not disappoint. Finished 23rd out of 30 teams.
2000-01: Minnesota Wild.
First season: Took three points fewer than Columbus and finished 25th overall.
